Can Europe adapt its regulatory frameworks and foster stronger public-private collaboration to compete with authoritarian states that prioritize speed and scalability over ethics and transparency?
(c) Atlantic Council
This MSC side event will explore the growing competition among global powers over emerging defense technologies. As artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies reshape international power dynamics, regulatory challenges are becoming a key point of contention between democratic and authoritarian regimes. While authoritarian regimes are unburdened by democratic processes they exploit centralized governance to rapidly advance defense capabilities. Conversely, Europe struggles with funding gaps, fragmented regulations, and limited public-private collaboration, while the U.S.’s more flexible regulatory framework enables faster innovation. This raises critical questions about how democratic systems like the EU and the U.S. can harmonize regulations, innovate funding mechanisms, and strengthen collaboration to outpace authoritarian regimes in this AI-innovation competition.
This panel invites policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore these issues, offering actionable insights to help democracies secure their leadership in AI-driven defense technologies while upholding core values.
We are currently fully booked and registration is no longer possible, however the event will be streamed on our YouTube channel which you can access through the link below.
Our Panelists
Thorsten Benner
Co-founder and director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin. He is an expert in the interplay of the US, Europe and non-Western powers in the making of global (dis)order, German and European policy vis-à-vis China and Asia-Pacific, peace and security as well as data and technology politics. Previously he worked with the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, the UN Development Programme in New York, and the Global Public Policy Project in Washington, DC.
John H Ridge CBE
Chief Adoption Officer at the NATO Innovation Fund, bringing extensive experience in defense innovation and strategic transformation. Prior to this, he served as Director of Defence Innovation at the UK Ministry of Defence, representing the UK on the NATO DIANA Board of Directors. A former senior military officer, he commanded engineering and bomb disposal units in Afghanistan and held key roles in UK defense strategy, crisis response, and military innovation.
Dr. Charlotte Weil von der Ahe
Senior Group Director Government Affairs at Helsing. She has substantial experience in political affairs, particularly in the field of AI in defence. Prior to joining Helsing in 2021, she served as Chief of Staff for FDP Party Leader Christian Lindner. She holds a PhD from the University of Oxford in Geography and the Environment.
Moritz Flössler
Moritz Flössler is the Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the Young Security Conference (YSC), established in 2020. As an experienced Public Sector Consultant specializing in defense and digital transformation, he has a strong background in European security cooperation and cybersecurity. Passionate about the European project, he has dedicated his career to facilitating dialogue between policymakers, experts, and emerging leaders to enhance Europe’s role in global security.
This event is facilitated in cooperation with the Stiftung Bayerisches Amerikahaus gGmbH – Bavarian Center for Transatlantic Relations
This event is facilitated in cooperation with the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung
This is an official side event of the Munich Security Conference 2025.